Following on from a set of teaser sketches, Kia has lifted the lid on its all new Rio light car, ahead of making its official debut at the Paris Motor Show.

The fourth Generation Rio is built atop an all-new platform, and shows the latest evolution of Kia’s styling themes, with slimmer head and tail lights featuring LED lighting signatures, and a reprofiled ‘tiger nose’ grille.

Along the bodysides the outgoing Rio’s scalloped detail has been replaced by a pair of lower horizontal creases, with the intention of making the car appear lower and longer.

Dimensionally the new Rio grows by 15mm in length, with a wheelbase stretched by 10mm and an increase in width of 5mm while the roofline sits 5mm lower than before.

Designed as a collaboration between Kia’s design studios in Germany, the USA and Korea, the new Rio is targeted a more globally appealing car.

On the inside the interior receives a massive overhaul compared with the current model, with a horizontally oriented dash, and a large central high resolution infotainment touchscreen joining new, more premium materials.

European-market Rios will be available with either grey or black cloth trim, with available grey or black artificial leather on high-spec variants, and a new Red Pack which adds red artificial leather seats.

The vehicle depicted in these images comes fully loaded with single-zone climate control, heated front seats and steering wheel, and satellite navigation - not all of which will make their way to the Australian market.

Details of engines and specifications is still under wraps for the time being, however Kia has scheduled production to begin before the end of this year, with an early 2017 introduction likely for Australia.

TMR will bring you more details of what to expect in Australia as information becomes available.